Chef-owner Hisao Goto and his wife Saori hope that going mass-market will bring in more customers and allow them to spend more time with their four-year-old daughter. — PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
After six and a half years of running boutique kaiseki restaurant Goto in Ann Siang Road, its chef-owner Hisao Goto and his wife Saori will be overhauling the shophouse space and turning it into a casual restaurant in November. Called G-One, it will aim to cater to the mass-market, although still seeking to maintain the quality of its food. Goto’s last day as a full-fledged traditional kaiseki restaurant will be on October 25, 2014 and will reopen by November 11, 2014.
As Goto’s loyal following bid farewell to the first stand-alone kaiseki restaurant in Singapore, we dole out a list of other popular kaiseki joints to rival that of Goto – some of which have been running for nearly 20 years and other stand-alone kaiseki restaurants which have popped up recently. You may also wish to get one last fill of food a la kaiseki style at Goto’s, before its big revamp.
Goto Japanese Restaurant. — PHOTO: GOTO
GOTO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
What: The kaiseki menu at this 20-seat restaurant changes every week. Lunch is priced at $68 for six courses, while dinner is priced at $180 for nine courses, or $280 for 19 courses. It is serving kaiseki meals until Oct 25, and will reopen as G-One, a casual restaurant, on Nov 11.
Where: 14 Ann Siang Road, 01-01
Open: Noon to 3pm, 7 to 10pm (Tuesday to Saturday), closed on Sunday and Monday
Info: Call 6438-1553 or e-mail goto.japanese@gmail.com
Kaiseki Yoshiyuki. — PHOTO: IKI CONCEPTS
KAISEKI YOSHIYUKI
What: Open for both lunch and dinner, Kaiseki Yoshiyuki, which opened two years ago, can seat a maximum of 22 diners. A four- to five-course lunch is priced at $88 or $128 a person, while an eight- to nine-course dinner is priced at $228 or $288 a person. The seasonal menu changes every two to three weeks.
Where: Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road, B1-39
Open: Noon to 1.30pm, 7 to 9.30pm (Monday to Saturday), closed on Sunday
Info: Call 6235-1088 or 8188-0900, or e-mail info@kaisekiyoshiyuki.com. Go to kaisekiyoshiyuki.com
Nadaman. — PHOTO: THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL
NADAMAN
What: Nadaman opened in 1830 in Osaka and the one here opened in 1984. Kaiseki is available for lunch ($65 a person) and dinner ($165 a person). Omakase kaiseki menus are available. This month, expect dishes such as grilled shiitake mushroom, autumn mackerel, chestnut and ear of rice for lunch; and grilled wagyu beef and Kamo eggplant with onion miso sauce, shiitake mushroom, sweet chilli, spring onion and red chilli for dinner.
Where: The Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road
Open: Noon to 2.30pm, 6 to 10.30pm, daily
Info: Call 6213-4571 or go to www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurants/nadaman/
Keyaki Japanese Restaurant. — PHOTO: PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE
KEYAKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
What: The restaurant has been serving a traditional kaiseki menu since it opened at the Pan Pacific hotel in 1986. Its omakase kaiseki menu comprises nine courses and is priced at $170 a person. Dishes currently include fresh fig with sesame vinegar sauce, radish sprout, uni and lily bulb; and clear bonito broth with prawn cake, seaweed, fish noodles shimeiji mushrooms and onion sprouts.
Where: Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Level 4
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30 to 10.30pm daily
Info: Call 6826-8240 or e-mail celebrate.sin@panpacific.com. Go to www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-resorts/singapore/marina/stay/dining/keyaki.html
Kumo Japanese Kaiseki Restaurant. — PHOTO: ICON VILLAGE
KUMO JAPANESE KAISEKI RESTAURANT
What: For lunch, expect a bento for $38 or a set lunch priced at $78. Kaiseki dinners, which have six to eight courses, are priced at $98, $138 and $168 a person.
Where: Icon Village, 12 Gopeng Street, 01-58
Open: Noon to 2.30pm, 6 to 10.30pm (Monday to Saturday), closed on Sunday
Info: Call 6225-8433 or e-mail kumo@kitchenlanguage.com.sg
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on September 7, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.
